A technique to store and retrieve digital data in DNA developed by UW and Microsoft researchers is one of the most innovative and game-changing technologies of the year, according to Popular Science’s 2016 “Best of What’s New” Awards. Read the full article in UW Today.

A new UW center will collect and analyze critical data that’s often lost in the immediate aftermath of hurricanes and earthquakes but that can help create more resilient communities. Read the full article in UW Today.

(9/21/16) The UW School of Public Health was awarded about $4.7 million on Wednesday by the National Institutes of Health to investigate how the environment influences neurodevelopment and asthma risk in children.
The grant was part of $157 million in national awards announced by the NIH for a multitude of projects under a seven-year initiative called Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO). Read the full story.

If you are a PHS-Funded Investigator you are required by federal regulations to complete FCOI training within four years of the date your initial FCOI training was completed. Access this streamlined online training on the FCOI webpage . Completion of this training will be automatically recorded in SAGE and appear in your MyResearch Training Transcript – there is nothing more you need to do! Proposal submission will be delayed if this training requirement is not met.

Required: All Investigators applying for or participating in PHS-Funded research.

Encouraged: All faculty, students, and staff who participate in University research.

In a White House ceremony May 19, President Barack Obama presented the National Medal of Science to Mary-Claire King, University of Washington professor of genome sciences and medicine. The award, the nation’s highest recognition for scientific achievement, honors King’s more than 40 years dedicated to research in evolution and the genetics of human disease, as well as to teaching and outreach endeavors that have supported human rights efforts on six continents and reunited families.

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation has awarded the University of Washington a three-year, $750,000 grant to support guest artists in developing new works, and to better integrate arts disciplines into the broader university curriculum.

The grant will support a Creative Fellowships Initiative, under which guest performing artist fellows will be recruited from around the world for one- to three-year residencies in dance, music and theater.

Once they open up a patient’s skull, there’s no time to send tissue samples to a pathology lab — where they are typically frozen, sliced, stained, mounted on slides and investigated under a bulky microscope — to definitively distinguish between cancerous and normal brain cells.

But a handheld, miniature microscope being developed by University of Washington mechanical engineers could allow surgeons to “see” at a cellular level in the operating room and determine where to stop cutting.

The new technology, developed in collaboration with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Stanford University and the Barrow Neurological Institute, is outlined in a paper published in January in the journal Biomedical Optics Express.

But a new technique developed by University of Washington and Microsoft researchers could shrink the space needed to store digital data that today would fill a Walmart supercenter down to the size of a sugar cube. Read the full article in UWToday.

The University of Washington was ranked No. 7 by Business First, a Buffalo-based publication, for America’s top 10 best public colleges and universities, the publication released Tuesday, Feb. 23. Read the full article in UWToday.

NIH training grant data tables are changing. New tables are required for all RPPRs as of December 15, 2015, and for all new applications submitted after May 25, 2016. Read this presentation with an overview of changes to data tables and view annotated tables here.

The Shaw Prize in Life Science and Medicine for 2015 was awarded to E. Peter Greenberg from the University of Washington and Bonnie Bassler from Princeton for their discovery of quorum sensing, a process whereby bacteria communicate with each other and which offers innovative ways to interfere with bacterial pathogens or to modulate the microbiome for health applications.

The Shaw Prize honors individuals, regardless of race, nationality, gender and religious belief, who have recently achieved significant breakthrough in academic and scientific research or applications and whose work has resulted in a positive and profound impact on mankind.

The Federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has issued consolidated and revised regulations pertaining to federal awards. These regulations supersede a number of OMB Circulars, including Circular A-21, A-110 and A-133, and take effect December 26, 2014.

The UW Uniform Guidance Core Team was assembled in early 2014 to review, analyze and then address changes to UW policy, procedure, and system changes due to the revised regulations. See the UW Uniform Grant Guidance webpage for federal/sponsor announcements, timelines, and UW developed materials.

UW sponsored program policies (Grants Information Memoranda or “GIMs”) have been updated to conform to the Uniform Guidance. Please visit the Office of Sponsored Programs GIM homepage for more information.

Please note that a few specific provisions of the Uniform Guidance – those involving Procurement Standards -- do not go into effect for the University of Washington until July 1, 2016. Further information can be found on the Procurement Services homepage. All other provisions are effective December 26, 2014.

The UW Uniform Guidance Team stands ready to provide assistance in any way possible. If you have questions, please contact Ted Mordhorst.

NYSERDA seeks proposals for development and demonstration activities that advance the energy performance of both new and existing buildings in the residential, multi-family or commercial sector. Technology areas of interest include, but are not limited to: construction materials, strategies and practices; HVAC and lighting technologies, automation technologies enabling load flexibility and smarter background operations; and building integrated renewable energy systems. Energy improvements in buildings can also result from activities that do not involve development of new products or construction methods; improvements can result from new policies, regulations or assessments. NYSERDA also seeks proposals for activities to remove inadvertent barriers that hinder the wider use of promising technologies. Added consideration will be given to technologies and opportunities that in addition to improving the energy and environmental performance, increase building resiliency, recovery, and adaptability to disruptions in the electric grid. The total available funding under six rounds of this solicitation is $25 million.The solicitation and associated documents can be found at

A informational webinar regarding NYSERDA's Program Opportunity Notice (PON) 2606 Advanced Buildings Program will be held on November 5th, 2013 at 1 PM EST. The webinar will provide information on the solicitation including technology areas of interest, eligible project categories and funding, program requirements, and the proposal submission process.

The webinar will provide answers to frequently asked questions and offer participants the opportunity to submit additional questions.Proposals for Round 3 of this solicitation must be received on December 3rd, 2013 by 5:00 pm Eastern Time.

The online Financial Conflicts of Interest (FCOI) training is now available at http://uw.edu/research/fcoi. Starting August 24th, 2012,Public Health Service (PHS)-funded investigators or investigators anticipating receiving PHS fundsmust complete the online FCOI training prior to the expenditure of funds on any new awards.

Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced more than $145 million for projects to help shape the next generation of solar energy technologies and ensure that the United States remains a leader in this global market. Sixty-nine projects in 24 states will accelerate research and development to increase efficiency, lower costs, and advance cutting-edge technologies. Funded through DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the projects will also improve materials, manufacturing processes, and supply chains for a wide range of photovoltaic (PV) solar cells and components of solar energy systems. Some of these investments also support efforts that will shorten the overall timeline from prototype to production and streamline building codes, zoning laws, permitting rules, and business processes for installing solar energy systems.

Two faculty received awards: Hugh Hillhouse got the only award that went to Washington State and Scott Dunham is funded via the award to Solar World (in Oregon).

Heterosexuals who are HIV negative can significantly reduce their risk of infection by taking a daily dose of an antiviral drug, according to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

An $18.5 million grant has been awarded by the National Science Foundation for establishment of a new Engineering Research Center for Sensorimotor Neural Engineering at the University of Washington (UW). Researchers at the centre will develop "neurobotics", which is development of robotic replacement limbs that can be controlled with the mind. Read more at: http://www.azorobotics.com/news.aspx?newsID=1797.

The application page is here:

Deadline for submission: August 18, 2011 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time

A limited number of scholarships are available for graduate students who attend the conference. Preference will be given to graduate students who submit an original abstract that represents their field of scholarly work AND is judged to be relevant to the conference objectives. Please see the “How do I submit an Abstract” FAQ and Submit an Abstract page for more information.

Scholarship applications will be accepted thru August 18th. Individuals awarded scholarships will be informed by September 1st. Applicants must complete the registration process in order to be considered for a scholarship.

September 22 & 23, 2011, Meany Hall
The University of Washington and Region X of the Public Health Service have been funded by the Office of Research Integrity, and the US Department of Health and Human Services to host a conference on the responsible and ethical conduct of research. This conference is hosted in collaboration with co-sponsors Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Seattle Children’s Hospital. The conference will be held on Sept. 22 and 23, 2011 in Meany Hall on the UW campus. The theme is “Ensuring an Ethical Foundation for Interdisciplinary Collaborations in Biomedical Research and the Provision of Public Health Services.”
The conference will focus on ethical challenges in three areas of research collaborations:
* University-Industry Collaboration: Building Translational Research Models
* Researcher to Researcher Collaboration: Promoting Shared Standards and Resources
* Collaboration in the International Arena: Challenges and Opportunities
Who Should Attend? Physicians, researchers, compliance officials, educators, research administrators, attorneys and government employees. Graduate students and post-doctoral fellows are especially encouraged to attend!
Keynote presentations will be held in the main auditorium of Meany Hall, with specific breakout sessions held nearby in Kane Hall. A link to the conference’s preliminary agenda and online registration information will be posted in April on the main web page for the Office of Research.
Please stay tuned and place this exciting and timely conference onto your calendars!

NSF has instituted a new requirement for data management and sharing of the products of research. All new proposals submitted or due on or after January 18, 2011 must include a supplementary document of no more than two pages labeled "Data Management Plan". Note that if a Data Management Plan would not be applicable to the proposed scope of work, a clear justification should be included. If it is applicable, the supplement should describe how the proposal will conform to NSF policy on the dissemination and sharing of research results (see AAG Chapter VI.D.4), and may include:

1.the types of data, samples, physical collections, software, curriculum materials, and other materials to be produced in the course of the project;

2.the standards to be used for data and metadata format and content (where existing standards are absent or deemed inadequate, this should be documented along with any proposed solutions or remedies);

3.policies for access and sharing including provisions for appropriate protection of privacy, confidentiality, security, intellectual property, or other rights or requirements;

4.policies and provisions for re-use, re-distribution, and the production of derivatives; and

5.plans for archiving data, samples, and other research products, and for preservation of access to them.

Data management requirements and plans specific to the Directorate, Office, Division, Program, or other NSF unit, relevant to a proposal are available at: http://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/dmp.jsp. If guidance specific to the program is not available, then the requirements established in this section apply.

A prize claimed by renowned conservationists such as David Attenborough and directors of some of the world's largest botanic gardens has been awarded to Estella Leopold, a University of Washington professor emeritus of biology, forest resources and quaternary research. Estella Leopold has dedicated herself to the preservation and stewardship of natural landscapes. Read more at: http://www.washington.edu/news/archive/59408

I'm delighted but humbled, to step into the role of Interim Vice Provost for Research of this great University. In spite of the relatively recent turn down in the national and state economies, the research enterprise at the University of Washington remains as vibrant as ever. Leading this remarkable organization is truly an honor.

Although there are many challenges we face, I am comforted by the fact that I will still be reporting to the same ‘bosses' I've had for the past five years in my role as Associate Vice Provost for Research. Interim Provost Mary Lidstrom, and Interim President Phyllis Wise have, and will continue to provide, steady leadership and vision for this University. Most importantly, I know that the dedicated staff in HSD, ORIS, OSP and OR-Central will continue their tireless efforts to provide outstanding service to our stakeholders, while at the same time ensuring full compliance with federal and state regulations.

The research productivity of our faculty, staff, and students continues to be nothing short of amazing - this is the ‘bright light' in an otherwise dim economic climate. The UW recently exceeded $325 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA ‘Stimulus') funding from federal resources, placing us at or near the top of all research institutions nation-wide (see ARRA side bar). This is in addition to the over $1 billion in annual grants and contracts our faculty have received.

The recent UW Economic Impact Report shows how important the UW research enterprise is to the State of Washington. For every dollar of state investment in the UW, we have returned over $22 to the state economy! Much of that impressive return on investment is the result of the $1.3 billion in research grants and contracts brought into the State, as well as the intellectual stimulus and well trained graduates that attract new businesses with high paying jobs.

Finally, the research enterprise is an integral part of the education mission of the UW. I am committed to ensuring that the Office of Research does all that we can so that our students (undergraduate, graduate, and professional) have every opportunity to learn from, and contribute to "discovery," the hallmark of our research endeavor. True to our motto, "DISCOVERY is at the heart of the university."

Professor Dave Eaton has agreed to serve as Interim Vice Provost for Research as Mary Lidstrom moves into her new role as Interim Provost. Dave has served as an Associate Vice Provost for the Office of Research since 2005.

Dr. Eaton received his Ph.D. in pharmacology from the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC) in 1978, and joined the University of Washington faculty in 1979. He is currently Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, and also holds adjunct appointments in Public Health Genetics and Medicinal Chemistry. He served as Associate Dean for Research in the School of Public Health from 2000-2005. In addition to his academic titles, he is founding Director of the NIH/NIEHS Core Center of Excellence, the Center for Ecogenetics and Environmental Health at the University of Washington. He has published over 150 scientific articles and book chapters in the field of molecular toxicology and chemical carcinogenesis, and is author of several key textbook chapters on the principles of toxicology. Dr. Eaton is an Elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Academy of Toxicological Sciences, and is a Lifetime National Associate of the National Academies of Sciences.

The University of Washington Board of Regents at a special public meeting today voted to appoint Phyllis M. Wise, UW Provost and Executive Vice President, to serve as interim president of the University of Washington while the Regents conduct a search for a new president to replace Mark Emmert. Read the full article here.

University of Washington Names Lidstrom Interim Provost

Interim president-designate Phyllis Wise has named Mary Lidstrom, to be interim provost, filling the position Wise will leave when she becomes interim president in the fall. Lidstrom is Vice Provost for Research and a professor of microbiology and chemical engineering, where she holds the Frank Jungers Chair of Engineering. She has been the vice provost for research since 2005. The appointment was approved by the Board of Regents at its regular meeting today.

"I am delighted Mary is willing to step into the provost's position," said Wise. "She has a great perspective on the major issues the University faces and understands deeply the importance of investing strategically to support excellence in discovery and learning. She's a highly respected academic and administrative leader, and I look forward to working with her in our new roles."

Lidstrom has been at the UW twice, first from 1978-85 and again since 1996. She earned her B.S. in microbiology from Oregon State and her master's and Ph.D. in bacteriology from the University of Wisconsin. She was a Leverhulme postdoctoral fellow in microbiology at the University of Sheffield. She has also held academic appointments in the Center for Great Lakes Studies in Milwaukee and in environmental engineering science at the California Institute of Technology. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology and of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Lidstrom has directed or co-directed a number of interdisciplinary programs that couple biology and engineering. She also has implemented an educational initiative that encourages engineering students to pursue careers at the boundary between engineering and biology and oversees the NHGRI-funded Genomics Outreach to Minorities program at UW. In addition, she runs an active research program in applied microbiology.

Lidstrom has a history of excellence in educational innovation. In 1993 she won the Caltech Associated Students Distinguished Teaching Award and in 2003, she received the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor Award for learning at the life sciences/engineering boundary. In 2006, she received the American Society for Microbiology Graduate Teaching Award for her long track record in mentoring graduate and postdoctoral students.

As the University's chief academic and budgetary officer, the Provost provides leadership in educational and curriculum development, formulation and allocation of space, long-range strategic planning, and management of the University's research programs, and serves as deputy to the President and provides advice and assistance to her and to the deans and the faculty in these matters.

Alfred O. Berg, UW professor and immediate past chair of the Department of Family Medicine, received the Curtis Hames Award for Research at the recent meeting of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine in Vancouver, B.C. This is the highest research recognition in family medicine, awarded jointly by the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the North American Primary Care Research Group. Read the full story here.

Mary-Claire King, the American Cancer Society Research Professor at the UW School of Medicine and renowned geneticist, has received the 2010 Trinity College Dublin Dawson Prize in Genetics. She was presented with the award by the college’s Smurfit Institute of Genetics after she gave a public lecture on Genetics and Breast Cancer: Progress in Personalised Medicine last month. Read the full story here.

This site features our metrics dashboard, training and survey results, and progress/updates to OR’s strategic goals through process improvement initiatives.The dashboard measures organization success in the following areas:

SEATTLE, Washington, April 6, 2010 - The Life Sciences Discovery Fund (LSDF) today announced nearly $15 million in program grant awards to support collaborative research initiatives spearheaded by three Washington state life sciences organizations.

The programs will utilize diverse approaches to enhance the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and other major diseases.

One program, led by Stephen Friend of Sage Bionetworks, will use powerful computational tools to create better models of complex biological systems and identify molecular pathways that can be targeted to develop safer and more effective drugs and diagnostic tests.

A second program, headed by Thomas Matula at the University of Washington, will combine ultrasound technologies with cutting-edge molecular medicine approaches to more accurately image tumors and enhance drug delivery to diseased tissues.

The third program, directed by Peggy Porter of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, will establish a multi-institutional system for collecting and distributing the biological specimens required to advance cancer research, diagnosis, and therapy.

According to LSDF executive director Lee Huntsman, each award is anticipated to yield great returns on LSDF’s investment. “These world-class teams will create critical information, material, and technological resources that are expected to provide competitive advantages to Washington’s researchers and companies and, ultimately, accelerate the development of new diagnostics and therapeutics for serious health conditions.” Huntsman also noted that LSDF support will further advance Washington’s leadership positions in computational research, systems biology, and ultrasound.

The LSDF board of trustees selected the awardees from among 19 proposals that were evaluated by national experts convened by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In a highly competitive two-phase process, proposals were rated on scientific merit and the potential to improve health and health care in Washington and provide statewide economic benefit.

Funding for these awards comes from Washington’s allocation of bonus payments under the Master Tobacco Settlement. The awards are subject to finalization of LSDF’s budget for 2010 and the terms and conditions of a grant agreement negotiated between the recipient institutions and LSDF.

The Life Sciences Discovery Fund, a Washington state agency established in May 2005, makes grant investments in innovative life sciences research to benefit Washington and its citizens.

BACKGROUNDER INFORMATION

Life Sciences Discovery Fund 2009 Health Research Program Grants

Stephen Friend, Sage Bionetworks - $4,999,996

Program Title: Sage Integrative Bionetwork Community: Scalable Resource for the State of Washington

Program Focus: To more accurately and comprehensively model biological systems through their network of interactions to develop safer and more effective drugs and diagnostic tests.

Human disease frequently causes complex changes in biological systems and molecular pathways, and, consequently, is often not treatable with individual drugs that target a single step in a pathway. Sage Bionetworks is a new nonprofit medical research organization that is developing a novel approach to biological and drug development research. Sage’s approach uses powerful computational tools to create holistic models of biological systems that map interactions among the multiple pathways that can influence disease severity, drug efficacy, and drug safety. Sage will create the “Sage Commons” for open-access research on systems biology and network models and for the application of this research to biological problems and human disease. LSDF will fund two facets of the Commons: 1) the development and implementation of a computing infrastructure that will enable scalable delivery of network data models and analyses to collaborators, and 2) the creation of the Washington Partners Program, which will actively engage Washington’s academic and biotechnology communities in next-generation systems biology research. By accelerating the identification of pathways that can be targeted to develop better drugs or diagnostic tests, the Sage Commons will provide Washington biotechnology companies with competitive advantages in drug and diagnostic development, help launch new companies and create jobs, and retain some of the world's best computational biologists in Washington.

Thomas Matula, University of Washington - $4,999,999

Program Title: Molecular Imaging and Therapy Using Ultrasound

Program Focus: To develop, translate, and commercialize new ultrasound techniques for molecular imaging and therapy.

Ultrasound is one of the leading medical diagnostic tools in the world due to its high portability and low cost. More ultrasound procedures are performed than any other type of imaging, including X-rays, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The University of Washington (UW) and Washington companies are established leaders in biomedical ultrasound research, development, and commercialization. Ultrasound has traditionally been used for visualizing anatomical structures. However, combining ultrasound technologies with advanced molecular approaches could potentially revolutionize disease diagnosis and treatment by allowing clinicians to target specific molecules in tissues for more precise imaging as well as for delivery of drugs. The program team will create a center focused on researching, translating, and commercializing new ultrasound techniques for molecular imaging and therapy. The ultrasound-based Washington Molecular Imaging and Therapy Center will capitalize on the UW’s existing expertise and initiatives as well as recruit new faculty and support novel research projects. Partnerships with clinicians, industry, and venture capitalists are anticipated to accelerate clinical translation and commercialization.

Peggy Porter, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center - $4,995,711

Program Title: Consortium Biospecimen Program (CBP)

Program Focus: To facilitate cancer treatment through comprehensive biological specimen collection and distribution.

Development of molecular tests for early diagnosis of cancer and other diseases, as well as tests that enable treatments to be tailored to a patient's condition and new therapeutic technologies, are critically dependent on blood and tissue samples collected from patients and healthy individuals with their consent. To catalyze the development of new diagnostic tests and drugs, the investigators will develop an information-rich biospecimen collection and distribution system that links regional biomedical investigators with biological specimens. A cross-institution informatics platform will be developed, as well as standardized practices for materials transfer and intellectual property management. This new program will capitalize on the resources and expertise of two programs previously funded by LSDF, the Phase 1 Clinical Trials Program and the Northwest Institute of Genetic Medicine. The CBP represents a collaboration between patients and researchers that provides an opportunity for cancer patients, their families, and friends to contribute to basic science and exciting discoveries that may one day lead to cures. The Consortium includes Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, the University of Washington, and Seattle Children's Hospital and Research Institute.

Energy researchers at the University of Washington are involved in scientific discovery, technology innovation, and society impacts research, and are involved in a broad range of energy projects that are making a difference and changing lives. The new website is designed to build the reputation of the UW in energy research, to increase our visibility, and to serve as a resource to find expertise in a given research area. Visit Energy Research at the UW.

Trans-Pacific Fellowship Program with the University of Queensland, Australia

Attached please find a new program, called the 'Trans-Pacific Fellowship Proram', that funds Graduate Student, Post-Doctoral Fellow and Faculty exchanges with the University of Queensland, Australia. This is part of a larger Memorandum of Understanding between the State of Washington and the State of Queensland that was initiated several years ago by Governor Gregoire, with a specific UW-UQ Memorandum of Understanding signed by Provost Wise. We are seeking applications from UW scientists interested in developing and/or fostering collaborations with UQ colleagues on research related to one or more of the following areas:

Please distribute this announcement and the attached application packet to potentially interested faculty. Applications are due in the Office of Research on February 1, 2010, for travel to Australia that begins between April 1 and December 1, 2010.

Send applications to Peggy Fanning, Office of Research, Box 351202 by February 1, 2010. If you have any questions, please call Peggy Fanning at (206)543-7502, or contact David Eaton (206) 685-3785.

Today's announcement of approximately $385 million over 5½ years in funding for the National Science Foundation's Ocean Observatories Initiative is the culmination of a two-decade quest to transform the manner in which science in ocean basins can be conducted. See the fact sheet at uwnews: http://www.washington.edu/news/archive/51819

Wood is a popular fuel for heating homes in the Northwest but few people might see it as an important source of liquid fuels for motor vehicles. However, a new UW report commissioned by the Washington Legislature suggests that woody biomass could represent the state's greatest opportunity to develop biofuels and reduce both green house gas emissions and dependency upon imported oil. Read more at the Uweek article of 8/20/09: http://www.washington.edu/news/archive/uweek/51624

The UW was ranked second in the country by Sierra Magazine for the University's sustainability efforts, and it was also named to the 2010 Green Rating Honor Roll by the Princeton Review. See more at the uweek article of 8/20/09: http://www.washington.edu/news/archive/uweek/51590

A research team headed by David Ginger, a University of Washington associate professor of chemistry, has found a way to make images of tiny bubbles and channels, roughly 10,000 times smaller than a human hair, inside plastic solar cells. These bubbles and channels form within the polymers as they are being created in a baking process, called annealing, that is used to improve the materials' performance. Find out more from the uweek article of 8/4/09: http://www.washington.edu/news/archive/51232